Amish Girl's Cancer Treatment Case Goes Back to Court

An appellate court has recently ruled in the case of an Amish Girl who initially refused chemotherapy as treatment for cancer, according to a report released Wednesday.

Akron Children's Hospital took a Medina County Amish family to court in a last attempt to treat the child for a lethal form of leukemia.

The girl was diagnosed in April and tumors were found in her neck, chest and kidneys.

The girl's family began the first course of chemotherapy but decided to stop all treatments in lieu of a more holistic approach after they found their daughter weaker than before.

"They just decided no more... we can't... we're not going to allow our daughter to go through this," said John Oberholtzer, Medina attorney, who represents the girl's parents.

The family also confirmed that they prayed for their decision and consulted family members, church elders and some of their friends.

"Although there are these dire medical predictions, they would refute that saying this is a matter beyond the providence of mortal man," said Oberholtzer.

According to the doctors at Akron Children's Hospital, there is an 85% chance of survival with chemotherapy but without it, the Amish girl may die within a year.

"It's uniformly fatal," said Dr. Robert McGregor, chief medical officer at Akron Children's Hospital.

The hospital contacted the Medina County Job and Family Services but they refused to file neglect charges.